Trip 5
(Last here Trip 2 2008)

[In fact, despite the above I was here only about 6 weeks previously between trips 3 & 4 but I was only there for very short time and aside from a nice tip win nothing much of note occurred)

Day One
Here again. It's not a great return in that all the dealers with the worst cuts seem to be working tonight and none of the good ones. Even some dealers who previously had so-so cuts are worse than before. I have a short spell of paranoia- is it because of me? Despite their pleasant manner towards me are they suspicious of my recent run of form against them which has now put me well ahead at this place? Or is it just that blackjack has been less profitable for them recently and they've had the knee-jerk but ultimately counter-productive reaction of making the cut worse? Looking around I see other dealers with worse cuts than they used to give.I'm reassured that it's not a measure specific to me, sinc I doubt they's cost themselves potential profit on so many tables by shuffling more often simply because I'm nearby. Later on I see one dealer on another table who used to have the best penetration in the house- less than a deck off. She now has one of the worst cuts- well over two decks. What a pity- it appears that word has come down from the management to cut more cards out. I thought they were cooler and more savvy than that.

Day 2
Better cutters today although not as good as it used to be. It's still a really good game due to the rules and with so many tables you can usually find a good cut somewhere. Yesterday looks like just a coincidence with so many dealers with bad penetration on the same shift. Small win.

Day3
There's a big sporting event taking place today and unsurprisingly the casino is empty early in the evening while it's on and then it gets busy afterwards as the bars empty of people who went there to watch the game. I hit 777, for which you get a free bottle of champagneI don't ususally partake when I'm playing but this time I offer the others at the table a glass and since this is acepted I ask for it to be brought out, to the surprise of the staff. I's good to keep them guessing sometimes. However it does seem the certain individuals among the personnel have a better idea about me. At one point I take a hit contrary to basic strategy, which ends up costing me the hand, as the dealer would have bust had I stayed. The pit boss, with whom I'm on friendly terms, sees this and says with a smile,“That's not very professional”. I'm certainly now glad that he and I get on. I break even today.

Day5
A nice win yesterday. Today I'm up very quick and then drop back. It's Friday night and predictably, the casino is full of drunks after midnight so space to play is limited but I change tables when one table gets quiet. I find myself playing with my new preferred dealer. At one point I split tens, a few times, end up needing the dealer to bust and she does, for a $1500 win. I was behind before that sheo and am now little ahead. “You always come up smelling of roses” says the dealer. "Sometimes I do", I reply.

Day 6
Saturday night and I know it will get busy later, possibly to the extent of being unplayable. This is fact happens. I get a small loss, despite a good solo game early on and then decide to try another casino in town that I assessed briefly earlier in the year. I go in and some of the staff recognise me from the sister casino where I played until it closed down some time ago. I have a nightmare first shoe and then it gets worse. The cut is poor but even after changing tables, my luck doesn't improve until I'm $6000 behind. I pull some back towards the end and leave $3500 behind. At least that should relax the management if they are liable to get spooked by the big action. They seemed cool enough on the night but we'll see how the react if I have a win against them next time.

Day 7
Back to my main casino in this city but another nightmare start. $7000 downinside two hours. I'm annoyed as I was about to take a break and return when th cut improved but decided not too as it was still early and not too busy. THat being the case I got the full force of a terrible run of cards, the count increasing and not coming in much. Then there is a new dealer, with a better cut and I regain $3000 the very next shoe back straight away. My form improves further and get level, then lose $4000 in shoe and then 3. The dealer changes again, for the worse this time but I win some more. I change tables as I lose my heads-up game and am glad of the excuse to look for a better cut as it would looks strange to change whne I had a solo game having been at the table all night. On the new table I have a mega shoe to get level and the next one gives me nice win on the night, but alas, I drop back at end to leave very slightly ahead on the session.